Cotabato City -- The Bangsamoro Parliament is pushing for a new law designed to guarantee equal rights and opportunities for all, with a special focus on empowering women, youth, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.

BTA Bill No. 336, the proposed Bangsamoro Gender and Development (GAD) Code, introduced by the Government of the Day and championed by the Bangsamoro Women’s Commission (BWC), is currently under review by the Parliament’s Women, Youth, Children, and Persons with Disabilities (CWYCP) Committee. The committee has just concluded public hearings in both the island and mainland provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

 

Bainon Karon, a commissioner of the BWC, explained that the GAD Code is based on extensive consultations with various groups. 

"It’s part of the Bangsamoro government’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all, especially for women and marginalized groups who have often been excluded from key decision-making processes,"  Karon said.

 

The committee aims to finalize and pass the bill by March 2025, ideally in time for International Women’s Day. 

"We are aiming for a meaningful celebration of International Women’s Day with the passage of this bill,” stated Committee Chair Diamila Disimban-Ramos.

 

While often associated with women's rights, the bill goes beyond just women, seeking to establish a gender-responsive governance framework that benefits all members of society regardless of gender, age, or background.

 

"We want to make it clear that this law isn’t just about women," Ramos said. 

"It’s about promoting fairness, equality, and protection for everyone—women, men, children, the youth, PWDs, and indigenous communities alike. Gender equality means that all sectors of society benefit from this law,”she said.

 

A distinguishing feature of the proposed GAD Code is its integration of Islamic principles. The bill is guided by values from the Qur-an and Sunnah, emphasizing justice, equality, and the protection of women and children. The bill also aims to combat violence and exploitation, especially against women and vulnerable groups.

 

The proposed GAD Code is a response to the alarming reality of violence against women and the unequal economic opportunities faced by women globally.  Data from the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey reveals that 17.5% of Filipino women aged 15-49 have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence from intimate partners. The World Bank’s Women, Business and Law 2022 report highlights that approximately 2.4 billion women of working age worldwide are denied equal economic opportunities.

 

Samauna Unda, a commissioner for the BWC, said the GAD Code is the result of years of advocacy by women in the region, pushing for a more inclusive and just society.

 

The bill also aims to ensure equal access to government programs for both women and men, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.

 

The proposed GAD Code, once passed, will require all local government units (LGUs) in the region to align their policies with the principles outlined in the law, ensuring that gender equality is integrated into all aspects of governance, from public services to economic development.

 

The committee will hold its final public hearing in Manila to hear from national government stakeholders and ensure their input is included in the final bill.

 

The GAD Code represents a significant step forward in Bangsamoro’s commitment to achieving gender equality and creating a more just and equitable society for all.